STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1230

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1334

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVLD) with the flexibility to offer licensing discounts in an expedited manner.

     Specifically, this measure amends section 92-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), by extending the authority of the PVLD to decrease and increase fees to thirty additional licensing laws that fall under the purview of the PVLD.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Occupational Therapists Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the intent of this Administration Package bill is to increase the types of licenses that can receive a discount from the PVLD for renewing their licenses through the PVLD's online renewal system and provide the PVLD with greater flexibility in this regard.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to make a technical amendment requested by the PVLD to ensure that the amendments made to section 92-28, HRS, will be effective for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair